Magnetic ore separator



July 27, 1954 R. E. DOWNING MAGNETIC ORE SEFARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1953 INVENTOR. Ross E. Down/fig y 1954 R. E. DOWNING MAGNETIC ORE SEPARATOR Z SheetE-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1953 INKENTOR.

Ross E. Dow/7mg PZWW dyad/M072 A 7' TOR/VEYS Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to ore separating devices, and more particularly to an improved magnetic ore separator for use in separating ferrous material suchas iron from crushed rock material.

A main object of the invention is toprovide a novel and improved magnetic ore separating apparatus for separating iron or similarferrous material from crushed rock, the apparatus being simplein construction, being relatively compact in size, and being automatic in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved magnetic iron ore separator which is of inexpensive construction, which is durable, and which provides a great savin in time and labor in the separation of iron and similar ferrous material from crushed rock.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the followin description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an improved ore separating machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

' Figure 2 is a vertical transverse cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse cross sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the ore-separating apparatus is designated generally at I I and comprises a generally rectangular supportin frame having the longitudinal top and bottom bars l2 and I3 and the spaced vertical connectin bars It, said vertical bars 14 being connected intermediate the top and bottom bars I2 and I3 by additional longitudinally extending frame bars and I6. Suitable transverse bars, suchas that shown at I! in Figure 3 are employed to connect the longitudinal bars so as to rigidify the frame.

Mounted on the longitudinal bars I5 are the respective bearing members [8 in which are iournaled the transverse rollers I!) on which is supported the conveyor belt 20. The roller l9 adjacent the left end of the frame, as viewed in Figure 4, has a pulley 2| mounted on the end ofsits shaft 22, said pulley being coupled by a suitable belt to a motor forv drivin the conveyor belt 20. Mountedin the frame adjacent to the right end of the conveyor belt, as viewed in Figure 1, is the chute baffle 24 defining a discharge chute 25 between the right end of the conveyor belt and the baille 24 for receiving waste crushed rock, material and for discharging said crushed rock material below the apparatus. Secured in the frame adjacent the chute 25 are the respective hopper plates 26, 2-1 which are downwardly convergent, as shown in Figure 1, and which define a discharge chute 28 leading to the ore-receiving receptacle 29.

Secured to the frame, at the left end thereof, as viewed in Figure 1, is the inclined receiving chute 30 leading to the hopper 3| for discharging crushed rock material onto the conveyor belt 20.

Secured to the vertical post members It of the frame at each side thereof are the longitudinally extending bar members 32, 33 and 34 which are spaced above each other in the manner shown in Figure l. The bar members 32 and 34 comprise angle bars having inwardly extending horizontal flanges, the horizontal flanges of the upper bar members 34 terminating short of the ends of the bar members 34, as shown at 35 and 36 in Figure 1, for a purpose presently to be described. Mounted on the bar members, 33 adjacent the respective ends are the respective bearin members 31, 38 in which are journaled the respective shafts 39 and 4G. The shafts 39 and 40 extend transversely of the frame and have mounted thereon pairs of sprocket wheels 4|, 4| and 42, 42. The shaft 39 projects laterally outwardly beyond the frame, as shown in Figure 2, and has mounted thereon the drive pulley 43 which is coupled by a suitable belt to a motor for driving the sprocket chains 44, 44 engaged on the sprocket wheels 4| and 42.

Transversely secured to the sprocket chains 44, M are the spaced electromagnets 45, said electromagnets being provided with the rollers 43 at their opposite sides which are engageable on the horizontal flanges of the respective angle bars 32 and 34. The terminals of the electromagnets 45 are respectively connected to contact rollers 4'! carried at the ends of arms 48 rigidly connected to the respective end portions of the electromagnets and projecting perpendicularly from the electromagnets into the space between the sprocket chains 44, 44. Designated at d9, 59 are respective rigid electrical conductors which are secured in the respective side portions of the main frame above the lower electromagnets on the sprocket chains, said conductors 49 extending longitudinally, as shown in Figure 1, and being engageable by the rollers 41 on said lower electromagnets as the electromagnets are supported by their rollers on the angle bars 32.

The respective longitudinally extending rigid conductors 49 are electrically connected to a suitable energizing power source for the electromagnets, said conductors 49, being, of course, suitably insulated from the framed the app The conductors 49 extend partially overand terminate above the ore-receivin hopper 28, as shown in Figure 1. As is further shown in Figure 1, the lower portions of the sprocket chains M extend parallel to the right end portion of the conveyor belt 29, and the electromagnets 45 are supported over the conveyor belt by the rollers 46 which engage on the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 32.

In operation, with the conveyor belt 2e driven by its drive pulley 2!, as above described, and with the sprocket chains fill similarly driven by the drive pulley t3, crushed rock material containing ore is admitted into the hopper 3! through the inlet chute 30 and is deposited on the left end portion of the conveyor belt 20. ihe crushed rock material moves on the conveyor belt and at the same time the electromagnets move along therewithin closely spaced relation to the crushed rock material. The electromagnets d5 attract the magnetic material in the crushed rock, such as iron or other similar ferrous material and raise this magnetic material from the mass of crushed material on the conveyor belt. Thus, as the material reaches the right end of the conveyor belt, the material is discharged into the waste chute whereas the magnetic material remains suspended by the electromagnets. As the electroinagnets move over the ore-receiving hopper 23, the contact rollers .7 of said electromagnets disenga e from the electrical conductors 5.9, whereby the electromagnets are deenergized, releasing the magnetic material and allowing said material to drop into the ore-receiving hopper 28. This operation proceeds continuously, thus continuously separating the magnetic material, such as iron or similar ferrous material from the crushed rock.

As shown in Figure 1, the electromagnets 45 connected to the upper portions of the chains 4-4- are supported by their rollers 16 on the horizontal flanges of the upper angle bars 3%. Since the horizontal flanges of said upper angle bars are cut away at and 35, the electromagnets can pass around the ends of said horizontal flanges as the sprocket wheels ii rotate, allowing the electromagnets to be moved downwardly from the top portions of the sprocket chains to the lower portions thereof, whereupon the rollers 36 of the electromagnets engage the horizontal flanges of the lower angle bars 32, allowing the electromagnets to be supported on said lower angle bars as they are moved over the conveycr belt 28. It wi11 be further noted from Fi ure 1 that the contact rollers 41 of the electromagnets come into engagement with the conductors 42- substantially at the same time as the rollers 16 of the electromagnets supportingly engage on the horizontal flanges of the angle bars Thus, the electromagnets are energized only so long as said electromagnets are moving over the conveyor belt 20, the electromagnets being deenergized, as above explained, as soon as they ave passed over the ore-receiving hopper 28. As is further illustrated in Figure 1, the cut away portions 35 of the horizontal flanges of upper angle bars 3 3 allow the supporting rollers 45 of the electromagnets to engage on the horizontal flanges of the upper angle bars 3t as said electromagnets are elevated by the rotation of the sprocket wheels i2 as said electromagnets pass from the lower portion of the sprocket chains to the upper portions thereof at the right ends of the chains.

While a specific embodiment of an improved ore-separating apparatus has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope or" the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for separating magnetic ore from nonmagnetic rock material comprising a belt conveyor for receiving crushed rock material, a waste chute at the end of said belt conveyor, an ore-receiving chute adjacent and beyond said waste chute with respect to said belt conveyor, an endless belt mounted over the end portion of said belt conveyor and extending over said orereceiving chute, means driving said endless belt with its lower portion moving in the same direction as the upper portion of said belt conveyor, a plurality of eiectromagnets secured on said endless belt, and means whereby said electromagets are energized while moving adjacent the belt conveyor and over said chute and are deenergized as they pass over the ore-receiving chute.

2. An apparatus for separating magnetic ore from nonmagnetic rock material comprising a supporting frame, a belt conveyor mounted on said frame for receiving crushed rock material, a waste chute carried by said frame at the end of said belt conveyor, an ore-receiving chute carried by said frame adjacent and beyond said waste chute with respect to said belt conveyor, an endless belt mounted on said frame over the end portion of said belt conveyor and extendin over said ore-receiving chute, means driving said endless belt with its lower portion moving in the same direction as the upper portion of said belt conveyor, a plurality of electromagnets secured on said endless belt, current supply conductors carried by said frame parallel to said endless belt and terminating over said ore-receiving chute, and respective contact members connected to and carried by the electromagnets, said contact members being arranged to engage the current supply conductors, whereby said electroma nets are energized while moving adjacent the belt conveyor and over said chute, and are deenergized as they pass over the ore-receiving chute.

3. An apparatus for separating magnetic ore from nonmagnetic rock material comprising a supporting frame, a belt conveyor mounted on said frame for receiving crushed rock material, a waste chute carried by said frame at the end of said belt conveyor, an ore-receiving chute carried by said frame adjacent and beyond said waste chute, with respect to said belt conveyor, a pair of endless sprocket chains mounted in parallel relation on the frame, parallel to and above the end portion of said belt conveyor and extending over said ore-receiving chute, means driving said endless sprocket chains with their lower portions moving in the same direction as the upper portion of said belt conveyor, a plurality of electromagnets secured on said sprocket chains, current supply conductors carried by said frame parallel to said sprocket chains and terminating over said ore-receiving chute, and respective contact members connected to and carried by the eleotromagnets, said contact members being arranged to engage the current supply conductors, whereby said electromagnets are energized while moving adjacent the belt conveyor and over said chute, and are deenergized as they pass over the ore-receiving chute.

No references cited. 

